Welwyn Garden City health chiefs have declared their confidence in a GP surgery battling to save its reputation after inspectors unveiled serious failings.
The Care Quality Commission has rated Peartree Surgery “inadequate”, and ordered special management measures because its October visit found potentially dangerous drugs prescribed without important follow-up blood tests.
Rachael Howe commented on Facebook: “Nice to see it’s taken four months for the world to know”, and other surgery patients complained about difficulty in getting appointments.
But the Parkway-based East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, responsible for GP surgeries, believes the Peartree Lane practice will overcome its problems.
Dr Nicky Williams, deputy clinical chairwoman, told the Welwyn Hatfield Times: “We would like to reassure patients at Peartree Surgery that we are supporting the practice to improve services in the light of concerns raised by the Care Quality Commission.
“Although the practice was praised for treating patients with compassion, dignity and respect and involving patients in decisions about their care and treatment, we understand that patients may be concerned by some elements of the Care Quality Commission’s report.
“The surgery has an action plan in place and is already addressing the concerns raised. The delivery of safe, high quality medical care will be the priority for all involved.
“Patients will be kept updated on progress.”
Her letter was endorsed by Di Pegg, head of primary care for NHS England in Hertfordshire.
The commission’s inspectors returned to the surgery on Thursday, and will perform a full reassessment in six months.
The surgery tweeted “They were impressed by improvements in safety and prescribing, calling them ‘perfect’.
Borough councillor Steve Roberts, who represents the Peartree ward, said: “Obviously there are very serious issues, which the surgery say they are addressing. It seems they provide a good service, but the clinical leadership is lacking.
“I have never heard any complaints about it [the surgery].
“People say it is hard to get an appointment, but you could say that about any surgery,
“We will see what happens in six months.”
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